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Search New York, 23rd September 2025 — The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) and its Climate Transition Coalition today published its new Supplier Decarbonisation Playbook, a practical guide providing actionable steps for consumer goods companies to engage their suppliers and accelerate sector-wide decarbonisation.
Developed in consultation with Coalition members, such as Ahold Delhaize, PepsiCo and Unilever, alongside technical experts and partner organisations like Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the playbook is designed to help FMCG suppliers tackle specific climate transition challenges. By providing clear guidance, key actions and best practices, it outlines how the consumer goods sector can drive supplier decarbonisation across six core sustainability dimensions:
- Emissions measurement and reduction, from target setting and reporting to supplier engagement and third-party verification
- Renewable electricity and heat, for example developing energy transition plans
- Deforestation and conversion-free (DCF) sourcing, such as establishing time-bound DCF policy with measurable KPIs
- Regenerative agriculture, for example protecting soil health and improving water management
Supplier decarbonisation is essential for the consumer goods industry to meet climate targets. Since supply chain emissions (Scope 3) account for a majority of the industry’s total climate impact, collaboration across value chains is crucial. This new guide helps suppliers of all sizes adopt science-based practices, which can reduce risk, create new business opportunities, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
The playbook is part of the ongoing effort by Coalition members – including ICA Gruppen, DFI Retail Group and Danone – who have agreed to ask suppliers to set six specific sustainability targets in the next several years. It provides a practical framework for suppliers to begin or accelerate their decarbonisation journeys and align with globally recognised standards such as the GHG Protocol, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
As Sharon Bligh, Director of the Climate Transition Coalition at the CGF, stated,
“The Supplier Decarbonisation Playbook is about translating our collective ambition into concrete action. Our role is to provide suppliers with the clarity and resources they need to make meaningful progress. By working together, we can build more resilient value chains and contribute to a net zero future.”
The Playbook features case studies from retailers who are driving decarbonisation across their supply chains. For example, IKEA increased HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) energy efficiency by 25% in two Spanish stores by installing advanced systems, supporting its goal to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2030. Walmart’s Project Gigaton engaged 5,900 suppliers to improve energy efficiency, helping the company exceed its emissions reduction target six years ahead of schedule. Woolworths invested over $77 million in energy upgrades, achieving a 42% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions since 2015. These stories demonstrate how targeted actions and supplier engagement can deliver measurable climate benefits.
The Playbook also highlights innovative approaches to sourcing and agriculture. Retailers like Ahold Delhaize are partnering with suppliers to transition key crops to regenerative practices, protecting soil health and biodiversity. These examples show how suppliers can leverage technology, collaboration, and verified standards to build more efficient and sustainable value chains.
Archana Jagannathan, Chief Sustainability Officer, PepsiCo Europe, and Co-Chair of the CGF’s Climate Transition Coalition, said:
“Suppliers are at the heart of the consumer goods value chain. This Playbook gives them the guidance they need to measure, manage, and reduce emissions — and ultimately accelerate progress towards a 1.5°C future. It is an important tool to drive pre-competitive collaboration, share knowledge, and support suppliers in making measurable progress on climate action.”
Accessing the Playbook
The Supplier Decarbonisation Playbook is now available for download on the CGF website.
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For more information:
Louise Chester
Communications Manager
The Consumer Goods Forum
[email protected]
Sharon Bligh
Director, Health and Sustainability
The Consumer Goods Forum
[email protected]
Notes to editors
About the Climate Transition Coalition
The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF)’s Climate Transition Coalition of Action brings together consumer goods companies, to accelerate meaningful progress on the sector’s climate journey. The Coalition’s ambition is to drive both emissions reduction and climate risk mitigation, recognising that cutting greenhouse gas emissions must go hand in hand with building resilience and supporting adaptation, particularly across complex, global supply chains.
About The Consumer Goods Forum
The Consumer Goods Forum (“CGF”) is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 4.6 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises more than 55 manufacturer and retailer CEOs. For more information, please visit: www.theconsumergoodsforum.com.
